5/12/26, 7:13 OCR A Level History: Russia and Its Rulers (1855–1964)
PM
OCR A Level History Russia and Its Rulers 1855–1964 Revision
Notes 2025/2026 | Complete Exam Questions & Answers on
Alexander II, Stalin, Lenin, Khrushchev, Revolutions, USSR &
Soviet Russia
Who ruled Russia between AII (1855-81), AIII (1881-94), NII (1894-1917), PG
1855-1964? (Feb-Oct 1917), Lenin (1917-24), Stalin (1928-53),
Khrushchev (1953-64)
What did Alexander II's 1861 Freed 51 million serfs, introduced redemption
Emancipation Edict do? payments (49 years @ 6% interest), land
given to mirs not individuals
How long was military service From 25 years to 6 years active, 9 years reserve
reduced to under Alexander II's
1874 reform?
What was the Zemstva? Local government bodies introduced by
Alexander II in 1864, allowed limited self-
governance for nobles and professionals
What was the Statute of Introduced by AIII to ban public gatherings,
State Security (1881)? censor media, imprison suspects without trial
Who were the Okhrana? Secret police under AIII and NII used to
suppress opposition, arrest revolutionaries,
operate outside legal system
What did Alexander III's May Targeted Jews, restricted settlement outside
Laws (1882) do? Pale, banned property ownership, led to 284
pogroms
What was Russification? Policy forcing non-Russians to adopt Russian
culture, language, religion (mainly under AIII
and NII)
How did Nicholas II respond to Introduced October Manifesto promising civil
the 1905 Revolution? liberties, created Duma (but retained
autocracy via Fundamental Laws 1906)
\ 1/11
, 5/12/26, 7:13 OCR A Level History: Russia and Its Rulers (1855–1964)
PM
What was the role of the Duma Four Dumas (1906-1917), all heavily limited by
under Nicholas II? Tsar, suspended or dismissed if too radical
What were the causes of the Military defeats in WWI, 2 million desertions,
February 1917 Revolution? 400% inflation, food shortages, Tsar's refusal
to reform
Why did the Provisional Stayed in WWI, failed land reform, shared
Government fail? power with Petrograd Soviet, lacked
legitimacy
Who led the Provisional Initially Prince Lvov, later Alexander Kerensky
Government?
What were Lenin's April Theses "Peace, Bread, Land" and "All Power to the
(1917)? Soviets"
What was the Treaty of Brest- Ended Russia's WWI involvement, lost 1/3 of
Litovsk (1918)? land, 1/3 of population, 89% of coal mines
What was War Communism Nationalisation of industry, grain
(1918-21)? requisitioning, food rationing, banned private
trade
What was the Red Terror? Cheka-led repression to eliminate opponents
(1918-21), executed over 100,000 people
How many people were killed in Estimated 8 million (combat +
the Russian Civil War (1918- famine/disease), Reds vs Whites
21)?
What was the NEP? Lenin's New Economic Policy (1921)
reintroduced limited capitalism to revive
economy, allowed private trade and small
businesses
\ 2/11
PM
OCR A Level History Russia and Its Rulers 1855–1964 Revision
Notes 2025/2026 | Complete Exam Questions & Answers on
Alexander II, Stalin, Lenin, Khrushchev, Revolutions, USSR &
Soviet Russia
Who ruled Russia between AII (1855-81), AIII (1881-94), NII (1894-1917), PG
1855-1964? (Feb-Oct 1917), Lenin (1917-24), Stalin (1928-53),
Khrushchev (1953-64)
What did Alexander II's 1861 Freed 51 million serfs, introduced redemption
Emancipation Edict do? payments (49 years @ 6% interest), land
given to mirs not individuals
How long was military service From 25 years to 6 years active, 9 years reserve
reduced to under Alexander II's
1874 reform?
What was the Zemstva? Local government bodies introduced by
Alexander II in 1864, allowed limited self-
governance for nobles and professionals
What was the Statute of Introduced by AIII to ban public gatherings,
State Security (1881)? censor media, imprison suspects without trial
Who were the Okhrana? Secret police under AIII and NII used to
suppress opposition, arrest revolutionaries,
operate outside legal system
What did Alexander III's May Targeted Jews, restricted settlement outside
Laws (1882) do? Pale, banned property ownership, led to 284
pogroms
What was Russification? Policy forcing non-Russians to adopt Russian
culture, language, religion (mainly under AIII
and NII)
How did Nicholas II respond to Introduced October Manifesto promising civil
the 1905 Revolution? liberties, created Duma (but retained
autocracy via Fundamental Laws 1906)
\ 1/11
, 5/12/26, 7:13 OCR A Level History: Russia and Its Rulers (1855–1964)
PM
What was the role of the Duma Four Dumas (1906-1917), all heavily limited by
under Nicholas II? Tsar, suspended or dismissed if too radical
What were the causes of the Military defeats in WWI, 2 million desertions,
February 1917 Revolution? 400% inflation, food shortages, Tsar's refusal
to reform
Why did the Provisional Stayed in WWI, failed land reform, shared
Government fail? power with Petrograd Soviet, lacked
legitimacy
Who led the Provisional Initially Prince Lvov, later Alexander Kerensky
Government?
What were Lenin's April Theses "Peace, Bread, Land" and "All Power to the
(1917)? Soviets"
What was the Treaty of Brest- Ended Russia's WWI involvement, lost 1/3 of
Litovsk (1918)? land, 1/3 of population, 89% of coal mines
What was War Communism Nationalisation of industry, grain
(1918-21)? requisitioning, food rationing, banned private
trade
What was the Red Terror? Cheka-led repression to eliminate opponents
(1918-21), executed over 100,000 people
How many people were killed in Estimated 8 million (combat +
the Russian Civil War (1918- famine/disease), Reds vs Whites
21)?
What was the NEP? Lenin's New Economic Policy (1921)
reintroduced limited capitalism to revive
economy, allowed private trade and small
businesses
\ 2/11
